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4 Patriots Instantly on Thin Ice With Mike Vrabel as Head Coach

With Mike Vrabel taking over as the Patriots head coach, multiple changes could be on the horizon.

By Jovan Alford

Oct 21, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former linebacker and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel makes a speech at his 2023 Patriots Hall of Fame induction in the Cross Insurance Pavilion at Gillette Stadium.
Oct 21, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former linebacker and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel makes a speech at his 2023 Patriots Hall of Fame induction in the Cross Insurance Pavilion at Gillette Stadium. / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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2. Vederian Lowe

The 25-year-old offensive tackle was one of the biggest disappointments this season. The Pats’ offensive line wasn’t spectacular, but Lowe’s play did not help the beleaguered unit.

According to ESPN’s team win rates for pass rush, run stop, and blocking win rates, the Patriots were ranked 31st in pass block win rate (51%) and 32nd in run block win rate (67%) in 2024. As for Lowe, he struggled mightily at left tackle.

The 25-year-old lineman posted a 54 overall grade, a 45.8 run blocking, and 66.9 pass blocking among 141 qualified tackles on PFF. Lowe was penalized 13 times (132nd among 141 tackles) and allowed five sacks (112th).

Also, the 6-foot-5 lineman allowed 33 pressures (117th among 141 qualified tackles), which isn’t ideal for success. Lowe is still under contract for 2025 ($1.1 million cap hit) before becoming a free agent in 2026.

However, with such a small cap hit, New England could outright cut Lowe or trade him for draft capital. Remember, the Patriots have Caedan Wallace, who they spent a third-round pick on in the 2024 draft.

With a new regime taking over, one has to believe Wallace will get a shot to win the left tackle spot over Lowe in 2025. Wallace played in six games due to an ankle injury this season, placing him on injured reserve in October.

When he did play, Wallace’s advanced metrics weren’t special (52.5 pass block grade and 57.4 run block grade on PFF). However, the former Penn State standout showed he can play at left and right tackle, giving him the upper hand heading into the offseason.

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